πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $791 in Maasin City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,249 in Maasin City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,708 in Maasin City.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 28% more expensive than Maasin City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Maasin City41% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$4.44β±274
34.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$24.06β±1,484
36.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$4.48β±276
58.26%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.53β±156
-32.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.78β±48.06
41.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.45β±27.92
73.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.57β±96.7
7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.14β±132
43.46%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$2.13β±132
-48.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.91β±56.4
38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$0.94β±57.9
46.81%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.07β±128
5.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$13.09β±807
-66.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.16β±318
9.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$7.51β±463
18.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.79β±111
30.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$0.68β±41.67
55.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.74β±107
-13.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.21β±136
-37.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$2.64β±163
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$2.46β±152
-52.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.97β±60.1
-8.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.79β±48.53
6.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.23β±199
-29.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$6.49β±400
63.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.21β±74.3
-0.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.31β±142
6.93%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.28β±17.32
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$0.81β±50.3
81.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.23β±14.17
752.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$2.61β±161
196.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.09β±67.4
-12.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$30.3Kβ±1.9M
-40.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$27.0Kβ±1.7M
-1.88%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$97.3β±6,002
-15.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$34.36β±2,119
-72.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$29.35β±1,810
-17.44%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$34.45β±2,125
-24.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$4.48β±276
324.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$5.96β±368
-34.06%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$227β±14.0K
36.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,943β±243.1K
51.29%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$45.63β±2,814
28.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$23.46β±1,446
37.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$77.2β±4,759
32.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$56.3β±3,473
92.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$267β±16.5K
78.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$173β±10.7K
118.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$592β±36.5K
41.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$397β±24.5K
82.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,802β±172.8K
-0.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,091β±67.3K
11.03%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maasin City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$132β±8,129
288.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Maasin City: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $267 in Maasin City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 288% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Maasin City. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $211, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Maasin City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maasin City cheaper than Medellin?
Maasin City is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Maasin City?
Medellin pays 288% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Maasin City?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $267 in Maasin City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Maasin City?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Maasin City?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $791 in Maasin City β a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Maasin City?
At $791 in Maasin City versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maasin City but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Maasin City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Maasin City more family-friendly?
For families, Maasin City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maasin City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 28% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.